Red State Revolt, Eric Blanc
Red State Revolt, Eric Blanc
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Red State Revolt
The Teachers' Strike Wave and Working-Class Politics

Author: Eric Blanc

Narrator: Eric Jason Martin

Unabridged: 6 hr 6 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 08/30/2019


Synopsis

Thirteen months after Trump allegedly captured the allegiance of "the white working class," a strike wave—the first in over four decades—rocked the United States. Inspired by the wildcat victory in West Virginia, teachers in Oklahoma, Arizona, and across the country walked off their jobs and shut down their schools to demand better pay for educators, more funding for students, and an end to years of austerity.

Confounding all expectations, these working-class rebellions erupted in regions with Republican electorates, weak unions, and bans on public sector strikes. By mobilizing to take their destinies into their own hands, red state school workers posed a clear alternative to politics as usual. And with similar actions now gaining steam in Los Angeles, Oakland, Denver, and Virginia, there is no sign that this upsurge will be short-lived.

Red State Revolt is a compelling analysis of the emergence and development of this historic strike wave, with an eye to extracting its main strategic lessons for educators, labor organizer, and radicals across the country. A former high school teacher and longtime activist, Eric Blanc embedded himself into the rank-and-file leaderships of the walkouts, where he was given access to internal organizing meetings and secret Facebook groups inaccessible to most journalists.

About Eric Blanc

Eric Blanc is a journalist, former high school teacher, and the author of Red State Revolt: The Teachers' Strike Wave and Working-Class Politics. He has appeared on Democracy Now and has written for the Nation and the Guardian. During the Los Angeles, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona, Denver, and Oakland public education strikes, Blanc has been Jacobin magazine's on-the-ground correspondent.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Rachel

had to stop reading every 5 or so pages to cry bc working class unity and solidarity makes me emotional......more

Goodreads review by Sean

A crucially necessary account of class struggle politics that laid the groundwork for this year’s strike uprising and Sander’s resurgent 2020 campaign. Clear, accessible, partisan language that makes it clear which side Blanc is on - you love to see it!......more

Goodreads review by Kayli

Eric Blanc, a former educator and current writer for Jacobin magazine, spent time in WV, OK, and AZ - "red states - during their teacher strikes in the spring of 2018. In this book, he shares his observations and snippets of interviews with many of the strike leaders. He also shares his own insights......more